About Me

Retired teacher with experience of life outside the classroom.Was, amongst other things, prior to becoming a schoolteacher,a barbers boy, a Woolworth's trainee,a windowdresser,an office clerk, a farm labourer and a youth leader.Oh, and for all of four hours a Betterware salesman.

Saturday, 7 July 2012

Act Your Age.

Regular followers will have read of our recent problems. Not helped by increasing years. A fact of which I became increasingly aware when watching 'When I Get Older' on BBC television this week. I was particularly moved by four nursing homes featured in the documentary. Some of the residents had various stages of dementia; it was at times harrowing and extremely sad. But dedicated staff insisted even dementia patients can have a quality of life that is of sufficient value to justify existence. In a way us 'old uns' can seem somewhat decrepit but boy, 'we ain't finished yet!' At times it tends to be 'What does society expect of us; what are we supposed, and more important, not supposed to do!'

My wife wears stripy leggings on occasion. (Influenced by two 'with it' daughters); she also has, at least for July, glorious red hair. Its not her natural colour but its great (and so useful when I lose her in a crowded supermarket.) Some probably frown on it. They think when you're getting on a bit you should go all dowdy and let your hair go grey. Old people are interesting if you get to know them. (When you get them off talking about free bus passes, fuel allowances and their aches and pains.) Do you remember when you were young and you did daft things. And what did your parents say. 'Act your age.' Always act your age! What exactly does that mean. And why should you, not acting your age is far more fun.

A couple I know, John and Lyn have just changed their transport. Now John's over seventy and Lyn's not too far short. Plus Lyn's arthritic so you'd think they'd go for something a bit sedate. Not a bath chair (presumably John pushing) but some 'old age pensioney' type transport. So what's John gone out and bought? (With Lyn's approval of course). Only a trike, a 3.5 litre, Rover engined, Jaguar back-ended automatic gear boxed trike. What's more John, who is an exceptionally talented engineer has only gone and fitted a hand throttle so that Lyn can be in charge of it as well. (She normally rides as passenger.) What a terrific, brave, exceptional thing to do. What a brilliant advert for the elderly. What a proverbial 'poke in the eye' for all those who dismiss anyone in their 'senior years' as 'past it', geriatric duffers. (Many of the 'young uns' couldn't do it, couldn't face it and couldn't afford it.) So good luck to John and Lyn, 'keep on trikin', while ever you do so there's hope for us all!

As a matter of interest, what do you fancy doing or buying

that you really shouldn't at your age. It's not true you're only 'young' once!

10 comments:

When people tell me to 'act my age', I tell them I already am! I act the age I feel, not the age I am. I still remember my mother telling me a couple of years before she died that I didn't act my age at all. My response was 'Thank you'! I don't think she got it. :-)

At 78 I still wear 'young' clothes, and why not. I am still of sound mind and in good health, yet youngsters seem to think I've become senile. It's not my imagination, people who should know better talk as if I am no longer capable of understanding everyday things. Bah! As for technology, I can hold my own with youngsters any day.